Method of and apparatus for forming hollow-concrete walls



E. w. MARTEN METHOD' OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOLLOW CONCRETE WALLS Filed March 4, 192e 2 sheets-sheet i Dern 11, 192s. 1,694,826

E. W. MARTEN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOLLOW CONCRETE WALLS Filed March 4. 192s sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1928,

UNITED STATES P 1,694,826 A'rENr OFFICE; f

ELMER w. MARTEN, or Los ANGELES, oALirOnNIA, AssrGNon To MONOLITH :HOLLOW yWALL COMPANY, or sAN'nInGo, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF ANDV ArrARA'rUsV ron-FORMING HOLLOWCONCRETE WALLS. y

VApplication filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,145.

yThis invention relates to a method'of and apparatus for forming monolithic hollow concrete walls and is more `particularly directed to a method and apparatusof `forming concrete 'walls having hollowicores and for forming such concrete walls in story heights.

In concrete construction work, it has been found extremely'advantageous,to form the walls of a core construction so that a plurality of air spaces are formed between the respective sides of the'wall.' Such a core wall construction not'only permits the. saving of great quantities of concrete, and is therefore less expensive, but provides a wall which is more sound-proof and is abetter Vinsulator of heat and the like.

Hollow concrete blocks have been"forniedkk` for many years and this linvention is not directed kto the formation of such hollow concrete blocks per se, butis directed lto the formation of a wall construction as a unit in story or like heights where the said wall isy desired in the exact position desired for the construction of the particular building.

The formation of such,V a wallfconstruction of hollow concrete presents many problems which are not presentedduring the formation of hollow concrete blocks. For'eXample, hollow concrete blocks may be formed in a machine where the same may easily be ejected from the core or'the core easily removedfrom the block. During the formation of a hollow concrete wall, it is necessary to build up the cores to the height desired Y and then to so collapse .the core and lrnocl; down the said core so that the same may be removed by sections from the wall kformation in order to avoid` any possible cracking of the wall during'the removal thereof.

It is therefore an obj ectof this invention to provide a method of and apparatus for forming monolithic hollow concrete walls, which method comprises positioning T-stringer guide members, forming or positioningoutside forms.- in spaced relation on opposite sides of the T-stringer guide members, tying the said forms together and positioning collapsible coresbetween the said forms along around the said cores to form cored wall sections and integral vertically extending studsA and columns, permitting the concrete to set,

collapsing the cores and removing the same from the-walls 'in sections or units so as to so formed. Y Y Another objectof this invention is to pro vide an apparatus for carryingoutlthe aforeywhich'may easily be 'knocked down or taken apart from a position at the top of the Wall.

Another object of this invent-ion isto .pro-

vvide outside forms which are of substantially the same dimensions as the said cores and which, when positioned, permit the insertion of rods .through the spaces between the adj acent core assemblies. l A

Other objects and advantagesof-this inelimina-te all possibility of cracking the wall e vention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompany-l ing drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 isA aside elevation of a wall conf struction embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.` frFigure 3 is a `sectional end elevation thereof. c Y Figure i is la top plan view of a collapsible core illustrating the same as wall construction. l

Figure 5 is a central sectional side elevation ofthe collapsible core illustrated in Figure l and illustrating the said core member` as coupled with a fragment of adjacent core members as the same are assembled in the formation'of such a wall. 1 f

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation thereof, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4. c

Figure 7 'is an enlarged Vi'fragmental view:

'illustrating the lmanner of connecting the Figure l0 is a perspective view illustrating apart from a V the use of metal lath to form a beam-bottom in V`the cored wall construction., 1

' Figure ll is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the formation of an anchor in the wall'constructionfor a stud'or partition.

l crete or like blocks endto end 2 and sides 3 and braced by Figure 12 is a fragmental top plan view on a reduced scale illustrating a manner of mounting nailing blocks in the cored wall construction.

Figure '13 is a perspective view ot the end portion oi. a T-stringer .illustrating one form of means provided for securing the T-stringers in position on the foundation of the building or walls thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 illustrates an outside torni, which outside orm may be of any desired or preferred construction and are preferably composed of sheet metal, such as steel, bent over atitsedges means of a plurality oflongitudinallyextendingbracemembers 4 and transversely extending brace members 5. The brace members 4 and 5 may be and are preferablyof wood to which the bent over edges 2 and sides 3 are nailed or secured'.

I have discovered that the use of such sheet metal. forms as above describfd provides an exterior finish to the concrete, which is in many cases extremely desirable, as the same appears precisely the same as the exterior finish of ancient Spanish constructions, such as missions and the like, and by placing such forms 1, one over the other and end to end in the building of the outside constructionfor forming the wall, an appearance is produced similar to that produced by placing large conand securing the osition. The appearance produced by such Forms is not similar to that produced by wooden forms which produce upon the eX- terior surface of the wall construction grain marks similar to the grain or' the wood.

sume in The forms 1, placed end to end and one over` the othelgare supported and secured in position by means of vertically extending stud members 2; Positioned between two forms, composed of such outside forms 1, are cores 6, the construction of which will hereinafter be specifically `set forth. The cores 6 are placed one over t Ae other, as illustrated in Figure 5, so as to build up the required height of the core for `the construction of the wall in one operation. Reinforcingbars? are positioned between the core member 6 and the forms 1 andare Wired or tied together in any suitable or desired manner as is wel] understood inthe art.

Themembers 6 are spaced longitudinally along the wall construct-ion so as to provide studs or columns 8 between the cored sections. In order to hold the moulds provided by the forms 1 together during the pouring of the concrete, wires or tie-bars 9 are provided. The tie-bars 9 may be positioned in t-he studs or columns along the wall construction and are preterably positioned so that the same will pass through the studs or columns 8 when formed. Blocks 10 are slipped over the end of the tie bars 9 at the opposite end thereof and clamps 11 of any desired or suitable construction are positioned on the tie bars 9 and clamped into position so as to prevent the torni 1 from spreading during the pouring of the concrete.

Referring .now to the construction of the cores 6, the same preferably comprise oppositely disposed side members 12 and end members 13. The side members 12 and the end members 13 are refer-ably composed of sheet metal. The enc members 13 are tra-pezoidal in horizontal cross-section. Guide members 16 are secured to their end faces to receive T-stringersil'l' which are tirst positioned and through which the guide members 16 of the superimposed cores 6 slide to maintain the f* cores in alignment. The ends 18 of the sheet metal forming the end sections 13 are hemmed over as illustrated in Figure 7 to provide hooks 19.A The ends 18 are bent upon themselves, as illustrated at 20, so that pins 21 may be placed therethrough, on which pins 21 expansion members 22 and 23 are pivotally supported. The expansion members 22 and 23 are pivotally secured together at a central r point by a pin24. The expansion members and 23 thereby form braces which maintain the sides 12in spaced relation. A stop 25 is provided on the member 23 so that when the members 22 and 23 are pushed downward to clamp the members 12in Vspaced relation. the

stops 25 will prevent further sinking of the members 22 and 23. The stop 25is so positioned that the members 22 and 23 are swung slightly beyond the center ot the horizontal position when the stop 25 engages the upper edge of the bar 23, this being;r provided to prevent the bars 22 and 23 from collapsing during the pouring of the core 6. y

The sides 12 are likewise formed of sheet metal and are bent upon themselves at their upper edgesto providehooks 26 into which channel braces 27 are inserted for bracing the sides 12. The channel braces 27 may be eon structed of portions of sheet metal. which is hemmed to form the desired channel brace and the same may be welded or otherwise secured in position. Intermediate the upper and lower bent over edges of the sides 2 are intermediate channel brace members 28, which channel brace members 28 may be liliewise constructed of bent portions of sheet metal which is Welded or otherwise secured to the body of the sides 12. It is preferable that the channel braces 27 and 28 are welded to the si des 12 so as to Aeliminate the necessity of rivets, bolts, or the like projecting through the sides 12, which rivets bolts, or the like would become imbedded in the wall construction and prevent the easy Withdrawal of the cores from the Wall after the concrete has been poured and allowed to set. The edges 29 of the side members 12 arc bent upon themselves to provide hooks 30 which engage concrete around the the hooks'19 formed on the end member 13 when the core 6 is assembled. i

In order to hold the sides12 and 13 assembled, an expansion member' 31 is provided, which member 31 comprises a pair of bars 32 which are pivotally secured together at a pin 33 at a point near the center thereof and are provided with notches 34. Intermediate expansion member engaging bars 34a are provided. which members 34a are provided with slots 35 at their ends. Pins 362L are passed through the slots 35L and secured to the end sections 13. The slots 35a are provided to permit contraction of 'the end sections 13. The barsv 32 are removably engaged at the slots 35EL with the bars 34a so as to permit the removal of the expansion member 31 to contract the length of the core. 1 'i The bars 32 are provided at their opposite ends with stops 35, which stops 35 are for the purpose of preventing the bars 32 from pivoting when the same are actuated to the locking position. The stops 35 are formed on the bars 32 so that they will engage the upper edges of the said bars V32 when the same are swung slightly past the horizontal position or center so that the said bars will not rotate from the locking position when the concrete is being poured.

Handles or grips 36 are secured to the side members 12 so as to permit the independent removal of the side members 12 from the Wall after the concrete has set. The members 14 and 15 are secured to the end sections 13 so as to extend beyond the said end sections and provide tapered guide leaves 38, the guide leaves 38 being adapted to guide the end members 13 ofthe superimposed cores 6 into alignment. t

I have discovered thatin the Construction of cored or hollow concrete walls, that it is necessary in order to provide a core that may be withdrawn in, units or sections from the Vwall after the concrete has set that'the construction of the said core must be so that the same will collapse to a substantial degree and if Vrequired by such construction, that the same may be knocked down and removed in parts. kThe requirement of aycore that may be collapsed and removed in sections or parts is due to the irregularities which will result in the 'formationr of the hollow cores of the wall. Irregularity of the hollow cores isdue to unequalcompression of the cores 6 by the weight of the concrete which is poured around the said cores, and due to the fact that ysuch cores cannot, Vfor practical reasons, be

made absolutely rigid. ,l

In the construction of the cored walls, when it is desired'to change either the location of the. hollow cores or to formbeam-bottoms .in a wall construction where it is Ydesired to provide a floor as in the construction of story height walls,'a portion of metal lath 40 may be laid over the cored hole formed in the wall studs 42 in position.

and when concrete is poured upon such section of metal lath 40, it has been found that the same will not pass through the metal lath but that the metal lath will support the same over such a cored hole. By use of proper form boards, a cut-a-way section 41 may bey formed in the wall construction of such a portion 40 of metallath so that a beam ofany desired or preferred construction may be mounted in the recess or space reserved.

In Figure -11 is illustrated a preferred form of means for forming recesses in the wall construction so as to permit the insertion in such wall construction of studs 42 which may be either studs for any desired or preferred use or may be Vof sections of partitions. In forming the spaces for such studs 42, a bent portion of metal lath 43 ismounted between the moulds 1 in the columns or studs 8 formed between the cored hole of the'wall construction and when the concrete is poured into the `end portions thereof may be bent around the studs 42 and nailed thereto so as to secure the In order to provide means mounted within the hollow Wall construction for nailing baseboards, moulding or the like, on the interior surface of the wall, nailing blocks 45 are provided, whiclr nailing blocks 45 may be spaced throughout the wall construction as desired and are preferably provided with a small portion of metal lath 46 which is nailed to their rear edge 47, and which portion of'metal lath is secured to the side of the core 6 by means of plaster of Paris or like material which is put upon the 'side of thecore in position toengage the metal lath 4G. Plaster of IJaris is particularly:desirable for sticking suoli nail-` ing blocks v45 to the core V6 as the samedries.

quickly and forms a bond which is sufficient to hold the remaining block 45 in position and which bond may be broken away to permit the withdrawal of the core oafter thewall con struction has been formed. l

In securing the T-stringers 1 7 in lposition i along the wall so that the 'same will be of detinite or substantially 'definite center and will Y hold the coi-e6 from sliding longitudinally wlienthe concreteis poured, it preferable to providebails 48 which are imbedded in the concrete on the foundation'of the building or of the wall section `formed immediately below the position in which the T-stringer member 17 is located and which bails 48 may be passed through holes 49y formed'at the ends of the"T- stringers y1'? and twisted together or otherwise secured T-stringers in position.k A hook 50 is provided at the lower end ofthe T-striugers 17 so that when ity is desired to position the T- Y so asto hold-,the lower ends of the 1 stringere over the hollow cores formed in the wall, that a bolt or pin may be maintained in position by means of similar hails 48 and the hook end of the T-stringers 17 rested upon this bolt or pin to maintain the T-stringers against endwise motion.

In carrying out the method embodying this invention, T-stringers 17 are first positioned along the wall line for the building. The T- stringers 17 may be supported in any suit-able or desirable manner, either upon a section or wall already constructed or embedded in the concrete foundation. The T-stringers are spaced apart a distance equal to the desired distance between the end sections 13 of the cores 6 so that the cores tmay be slid down the T-stringers 17 into position, the clamp members 16 being engaged with the T-stringers 17. Prior to the placing of the cores 6 in position, the reinforcing material 7 is lirst positioned as desired and the outside forms are positioned and supported on opposite sides of the T-stringers 17. The forms 1 are tied together by means of tie-bars or irons 9 as heretofore set forth. The cores 6 are then positioned over bars or spaced T-stringers 17 and slid downward into position between the forms 1. The concrete is then poured around the forms and allowed to set for any desired period such as is described by ordinance. The cores 6 are collapsed by means of a hook or pike-pole (not shown), which is inserted int-o the cores 6 to grip the brace members 3l to entirely remove the same from the cores. The removal of this brace member 31 permits the end sections 13 of the cores 6 to move inwardly toward each other so as to free the same from the ends of the hollow core of the wall. The expansion members provided by the bars 22 and 23 are then collapsed so as to then permit the hooks 19 and 30 to become disengaged. The hook or pike-pole is then positioned within the cores 6 to grip the handles or grips 36 to remove the sides 12 from the hollow core of the wall. The end sections are then removed by means of such a hook.

In many cases, it is preferable to remove the end sections 13 prior to the removal of the sides 12, as the removal of the end sections 13 which have been contracted by the removal of the expansion member 31, enables the side members 12 to be more easily removed from the hollow cores of the wall. After the cores 6 have been removed, it is necessary to leave the outside forms 1 in position for several days, as is required by ordinance, to permit the concrete to thoroughly set. After the concrete has set, the outside forms 1 are removed and the wall construction is completed. Ther brace bars or irons 9 are preferably pulled from the construction through the studs or columns 8 prior to the complete setting of the concrete but after the same has partially set, the removal of these brace bars or irons 9 at this time are more easily pulled and with less damage to the wall construction. The holes left by the pulling of these bracebars 9 may be filled with concrete.

After the wall has been built to the story height, the floor for that story may then be l put in in any desired or preferred manner as is well understood in the art andthe process heretofore described repeated for the construction of the second story and hence in a like manner the entire building may be constructed.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact details and construction herein set forth, which may obviously be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of forming hollow concrete walls of story height which comprises positioning collapsible reinforced core members in spaced relation along the said wall to vform cored sections and spaced columns, of substantially story height. building up outside forms in position spaced from and on opposite sides of the said cores of substantially story height, positioning reinforcing members in the space formed between the cores and the said forms, pouring concrete in the space provided around the said cores, and collapsing the said cores and removing the same in sections after the concrete has set.

2. A method of forming hollow concrete walls of story height which comprises positioning internally reinforced collapsible core members of substantially story height in spaced relation along the said wall to form cored sections and spaced columns, of substantially story height, building up outside forms in position spaced from and on opposite sides of the said cores, pouring concrete in the space provided around the said cores, removing the internal reinforcements from the core members and the. collapsed cores from the wall after the concrete has set.

Y 3. In anr apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of core members adapted to be positioned end for end to provide a story height core, vertically extending aligning and brace members adapted to be removably connected with the said cores, each of said cores comprising oppositely disposed ends and sides, and a brace member removably mounted between the said ends.

4. In a wall construction, the combination of a plurality of spaced forms, spacedl form members mounted between the forms, and a portion of metal lath mounted between the forms to form a stud recess.'

5. In a wall construction, the combination of a plurality of spaced forms, spaced cores l mounted between the forms and around which concrete is poured to form a Wall having spaced cores, a portion of metal lath mounted on the wall construction over one of the cores and means for building up the Wall section to discontinue the core covered by the metal lath.

(3.' In an apparatus of the class described,v

the'combinationof a plurality of independent collapsible core members formed or' desired height and spaced apart, thecore members being Jiormed of end sections movable toward each other and collapsible braces holding the ends in spaced relation, and means adapted to be secured to the cores for aligning tivo or more cores vertically.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of collapsible cores adapted to be positioned end to end to iorm a core of desired height, and vertically extending brace members adapted to be removably connected With thecores.

- 8. In an apparatusofthe class described,`

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif., this 20th day e of February, 1.926. E

MER vv. MARTEN.' Y 

